LOWER POTTSGROVE — A Lancaster man accused of stealing a car from Exeter was caught by township police after short chase and search in the area of Pottstown Memorial Medical Center late Wednesday into Thursday.

According to a press release from Lower Pottsgrove Police, Timothy Joseph Schittler, 22, of Lancaster City, was seen by officer R. Ryan Smith driving a white Nissan Sentra that pulled into the parking lot of the KinderCare on Industrial Highway Dec. 12 around 11:28 p.m. Smith noticed Schittler backed into a curb and quickly left the area when he spotted Smith’s police vehicle, police said.

Smith followed the Nissan which failed to stop when the officer activated his lights and siren, police said. Smith chased the Nissan down Armand Hammer Boulevard and into the parking lot of Pottstown Memorial Medical Center. The driver was eventually stopped by the dead end in the upper parking level area of the hospital’s lot, where Schittler jumped from the vehicle and ran away on foot, police said.

Lower Pottsgrove police searched the area with the assistance of Pottstown and North Coventry police and a Limerick police K-9 unit. The suspect was spotted by searchers and fled again, but a Pottstown police officer eventually located him in the 1400 block of Sunrise Avenue and arrested him. Lower Pottsgrove Police Chief Michael Foltz said the chase and search for the suspect lasted only a short time before Schittler was apprehended.

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Police discovered the car Schittler was driving was stolen from Exeter Township Nov. 15 and the registration plate on the Nissan was stolen on the same day from Parksburg, Chester County. Stolen electronics were also found inside the vehicle, police said.

Schittler was suspected of driving under the influence of medication and was administered a blood test, police said. Results of that test are pending.

He was arraigned Thursday morning before District Judge Ed Kropp on charges of receiving a stolen vehicle, unauthorized use of an automobile, recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest, fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving under suspension, careless driving, reckless driving, having possession of a stolen registration and accidents involving damage.

Schittler was committed to Montgomery County Prison on $100,000 cash bail. His preliminary hearing was set for Dec. 26 at 10 a.m. before Judge Kropp.